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Black Sabbath is approaching the conclusion of its storied career. The iconic band, set to perform with lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne this summer, is preparing for what is anticipated as not only their final concert but potentially his as well. As anticipation builds for this poignant event, the heavy metal pioneers have unexpectedly made a return to the Billboard charts this week.
This resurgence is not attributed to a new release but instead to a beloved classic album that has resonated with fans for many years, even though Osbourne was not involved in its creation.
Black Sabbath’s The Eternal Idol Makes Waves Once Again
The Eternal Idol has debuted on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart, which tracks the leading full-length albums and EPs in the U.S., combining both physical sales and digital downloads into a single ranking. The album has just made the cut, landing at No. 48.
In the latest tracking period, The Eternal Idol sold nearly 4,100 copies, according to Luminate. To contextualize this figure, the previous week saw the album achieving merely single-digit sales. This remarkable spike translates to over an 81,000% increase—an extraordinary leap for any musical work.
The Impact of Record Store Day on The Eternal Idol
This impressive surge in sales is largely credited to Record Store Day. For this annual event, 6,000 copies of The Eternal Idol were re-released on red translucent vinyl. Many of these LPs were quickly acquired by collectors and dedicated fans, reintegrating this vintage record into the public eye.
Revisiting Black Sabbath’s Historical Album
Released in 1987, The Eternal Idol marked the group’s thirteenth studio album and was the first to feature vocalist Tony Martin following the departure of Osbourne. While it may not have been a considerable commercial success upon its initial launch, the album has retained a strong fanbase, a testament to its lasting legacy as it continues to achieve bestseller status decades later.
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